Video: Las Vegas officer shoots shovel-wielding woman

Before police arrived, Assistant Sheriff Brett Zimmerman said the woman swung a shovel at a couple and missed

By PoliceOne Staff

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released body cam video of an officer shooting a woman armed with a shovel.

On Saturday, police were called after dispatchers received a report about a woman threatening people with a broom and skillet, FOX 5 reports. Police said a caller told dispatchers that the woman struck her boyfriend’s vehicle with a shovel.

After refusing to comply, Richards started walking towards the couple, prompting Willis to fire seven times at her, police said. Richards had gunshots wounds in her arm, leg and abdomen, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Another officer arrived and tried to put a tourniquet on Richards before she bit the officer in the hand. Richards was taken to a hospital where she was listed in serious but stable condition.

Richards was booked in absentia and faces several charges, including two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Zimmerman said Richards has a prior criminal history dating back to January 17, and had prior incidents involving the crisis intervention team, including one two days before the shooting.

Willis, 23, was placed on paid leave, per policy, while the shooting is being investigated.